What does "lunchbox" mean?
A container for transporting meals, especially lunch.
Lunchbox
/ˈlʌntʃˌbɒks/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A container for transporting meals, especially lunch.
- Grammar: lunchbox is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: collectible object, cultural artifact, food container, lunch box.
- Useful contrasts: functional item, no container, unpackaged food.
- Usage evidence: They stole her lunchbox and threw it out the window.
How to use "lunchbox"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lunchbox" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "lunchbox" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "lunchbox" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lunchbox" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lunchbox" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "collectible object" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "lunchbox", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A container for transporting meals, especially lunch.
"“If someone assaulted you, if someone offended you, would you keep a memento of their assault? Would you stick it on your daily lunchbox and carry it with you day in and day out?” she asked."
- 2 The penis when enclosed in clothing. UK, slang
"The campaign tagline, 'I've got a tiny packet', is written across [Linford] Christie's trademark impressively muscled upper body. 'Tiny packet' makes us remember that Linford is known for his 'lunchbox' from his heyday as a sprinter because of the bulge apparent in his lycra shorts. His lunchbox and now his tiny packet allude to the diminishing of black men to just their genitals[…]"
- 3 A lunch packaged in a disposable box to be taken away to eat.
"Jack was carrying his lunchbox with him."
- 4 A luggable; an early laptop computer, usually a unit with a handle and a fold-out keyboard. slang
"You'll find a mix among clamshell laptops for strong laps, lunchboxes, and sewing-machine configurations; the latter two designs typically have detachable keyboards."
- 5 A simple portable transmitter sometimes used in phreaking. slang
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A cocktail made with beer, orange juice, and almond liqueur.
- 7 A person seen as weak and disposable who could easily be sacrificed without much guilt or afterthought. idiomatic, slang
Synonyms
All synonyms collectible objectcultural artifactfood containerlunch boxlunch pailmeal container
Antonyms
functional itemno containerunpackaged foodutility container
Example
"They stole her lunchbox and threw it out the window."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lunchbox"?
Common synonyms include: collectible object, cultural artifact, food container, lunch box, lunch pail, meal container.
How do you use "lunchbox" in a sentence?
They stole her lunchbox and threw it out the window.
How do you pronounce "lunchbox"?
Pronounced /ˈlʌntʃˌbɒks/.
Etymology
From lunch + box.